Wednesday, 11 September 2019

Tuesday, 10 September 2019

When we were in the ECWS in 88 we did a few Armada themed things. We did a week at Basing which I have posted about before but we also did a beacon celebration on Westbury White Horse. My wife got rather good at doing ruffs.

Bought this book off Ebay for a few quid. It was first published in 1994 which was after my time but I do know quite a few depicted. It is all in black and white but it's very well done with brooding skies and brooding reenactors. Done in an informative manner under such subjects as surgeon, chaplain, ensign and so on. It captures the early 90s fashion in the Civil War scene well.

Saturday, 7 September 2019

From the Vrancx wiki'One of the subjects to which he returned regularly was that of the Battle between Lekkerbeetje and de Bréauté on the Heath of Vught. The subject took its inspiration from an event that occurred on 5 February 1600 when an overly-confident young French commander by the name of Pierre de Bréauté was challenged to a duel by Spanish Cavalry Lieutenant Gerard van Houwelingen, known by his knickname Lekkerbeetje, after he supposedly claimed his own horsemen better than the Spaniard’s. The battle was fought on the Heath of Vught, a small wooded area near the town of Vught, between the town gallows and the mill. Each side had 21 horsemen armed with swords and pistols. Lekkerbeetje was killed at the start of the engagement with a single pistol shot. During the skirmish the French suffered a total of 19 fatalities. Pierre de Bréauté was caught and then killed by his opponents. The subject of this battle became so popular at the time because it celebrated the by then essentially defunct chivalric practice of duelling.[10] '

Wednesday, 4 September 2019

This is a really useful photo for me. First time I have seen a photo. It is of my first ever event as a participant. In 1985 at Glastonbury during the 300th of the Monmouth Rebellion in 1985. Devereux's and friends of the ECWS as Trelawney's regiment. I am one of the pikemen. That's Glastonbury Tor in the background.

Sunday, 1 September 2019

This picture is by Tony Spence from 1988 when I was a pikeman in Devereux's regiment. I am second from the right. There is a new Facebook group started by Howard Giles called Blasts from the past - reenactment nostalgia.

Thursday, 29 August 2019

Today I saw this image by Chris Warner and it was like meeting an old friend. This was my template when I started reenacting as a pikeman. Probably out of date now as it was published in 1981 but I like the art. Details here

In 1709, after eight years of war, France was on her knees. Things were so bad that King Louis XIV offered to end the War of Spanish Succession on humiliating terms. The allied powers refused Louis’ offer, believing that one more successful campaign would utterly destroy French power.

This book will describe the campaign of 1709 which culminated in the battle of Malplaquet. Led by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy, the allied armies achieved a tactical victory but it was a hollow one. They suffered 23,000 casualties to the French 11,000 in what was the bloodiest battle of the 18th century. The scale of casualties shocked Europe and led to a reversal of fortunes. Marlborough was dismissed and King Louis resolved to fight on. When the war finally ended it did so on terms favourable to France.

Although it is generally accepted that Marlborough was never defeated, this book will show how the battle of Malplaquet was ultimately a French strategic victory.

Other titles announced in the Campaign series were Dettingen and King Philip's war.

Thursday, 22 August 2019

Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Today's anniversary was a disaster for the Earl of Essex.
After the Battle when the foot surrendered (the cavalry left in a breakout'The disarmed soldiers marched eastward to Portsmouth in continuing bad weather, being continually robbed and threatened by local people. About 1,000 died of exposure and hunger, and 1,000 more deserted or fell sick.' Wiki

The other day we were talking about Richard Scollins and I had a look on ebay if his book was reasonably priced and it was so I bought it. If you don't know it it's 'An illustrated history of the soldier from 3000 bc to the present day'. Not bad. Obviously covering a lot of ground but it's worth getting if you like his work.